ANC stands divided over DA

The bloc within the ANC which is against the DA presence in the government of national unity (GNU) is getting larger due to the influence of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s campaign to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa, experts say.

Growing calls from the ANC caucus for the DA to be kicked out of the GNU indicate renewed factionalism within the Ramaphosa-led camp… the sort of factionalism that has badly damaged the party it in the past.

This is part of the jockeying for position by some leaders ahead of the party’s 2027 elective national conference, one source said.

Anti-DA chorus

It’s not surprising that the anti-DA chorus within the ANC is growing because it has been influenced by Mashatile’s presidential campaign, said independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego.

If the ANC succession tradition is strictly adhered to, Mashatile should succeed Ramaphosa. But many oppose Mashatile’s rise to the top, citing allegations of graft.

“This is really a marker on the ground to say the ANC is moving into election mode and is turning into those who support and those who oppose the GNU [with DA].”

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ANC could lead the GNU without the DA

The ANC caucus call spoke to the fact that the ANC had not explained the GNU sufficiently to all its members, Mashego said. Although the ANC could lead the GNU without the DA, the DA itself was not invited to the coalition like other parties, but came as an equal partner with the ANC.

“Therefore, the ANC cannot kick the DA out of the GNU,” Mashego said. Political analyst Khanyi Magubane said the ANC parliamentary caucus’ reported call to the party’s top brass to let the DA go and engage the small parties in the GNU is indicative of a centre that is not holding.

The ANC should move away from factionalism because it has weakened the party, he warned. Previously, only the SACP and Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi publicly opposed the DA’s presence in the coalition.

DA acting as opposition party

Now they have been joined by ANC parliamentarians fed up with the DA continually acting as the opposition party within the coalition.

The advocates of the DA remaining in the GNU include the ANC Veterans League and big businesses, the real drivers of the process. The league and business detest any participation by Julius Malema’s EFF and uMkhonto weSizwe party in the 10 party coalition.

The Sunday Times reported on the revolt rocking the ANC, in which the caucus demanded that the ANC dump the DA in favour of the small parties.

It cited Ramaphosa’s statement that by opposing the budget, the DA had “defined itself out of the GNU.” They were concerned about the DA undermining the GNU and the ANC, among other things.

The DA, along with the EFF, successfully took the government to court to stop the implementation of the 0.5%-percentage point hike in value-added tax.

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Employment Equity Act

The DA is currently taking the government to court to seek a ruling that would reverse the Employment Equity Act, legislation meant to bring about equity in the workplace and address imbalances of apartheid.

The employment equity issue potential could derail the GNU itself, said political analyst Daniel Silke. “It may survive in the short term but the big picture issues are going to derail the GNU over the next year or two.”

“If the caucus of the ANC is calling for the removal of the DA and the mother body is not, that is a clear indication that there is misalignment,” Magubane said.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula made critical remarks against the DA, including saying if they wish to leave, they are free to do so because the ANC would engage other parties, she said.

Factional politics

Despite these remarks, the party had not made a clear pronouncement that it was evicting the DA from the GNU. “This could be factional politics at play.”

Magubane referred to the defunct Zuma radical economic transformation faction and the Ramaphosa group, then called Thuma Mina, that battled each other during the Zuma years that almost tore the ANC apart.

The ANC should move away from factional politics, she said. “They weaken the party, and its ability to speak in one voice.

“The bigger issue now is how does the ANC convince their constituents the centre is still holding if structures like the caucus are singing from a different hymn sheet?”

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